Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, particularly in cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal pests that hide in dark, secluded places during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis through five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include painful, itchy bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and severe psychological distress or anxiety associated with infestations. They provide no known ecological benefit indoors.